Invited RTI activist boycott PM event

Leading RTI activists today boycotted the opening of annual CIC convention, celebrating the 10th anniversary of the transparency law, to be addressed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as activists alleged only seven were invited for the PM’s session, which is unfair and against the spirit of RTI.

The activists including Lokesh Batra, Venkatesh Nayak, Anjali Bhardwaj and Nikhil Dey, who were invited for the convention, announced their boycott plans after the authorities restricted the invitations to some activists citing security reasons.

Social activist Aruna Roy, who is a signatory to the resolution, alleged that this is happening under the "control" not "influence" of the government.

"It is an indication of government wanting to take over the decision making process to an extent it can. In the history of this government in one and half year, consultation has stopped, anytime access to authority or free governance is so restricted," she told reporters.

Veteran RTI activist Commodore Lokesh Batra said, “This convention is like a partnership between the government and the activists and practitioners of the law. All the shortcomings and good comings are to be discussed together. But to have only the government representatives sitting there and not have the people who you use the act, is unfair.

The activists have in the past being an integral part of the annual convention organised by the CIC where the Prime Minister or the President used to attend the opening or valedictory session. Only one year, none of the two top dignitaries were able to attend following which Law Minister Veerappa Moily had addressed the gathering.

Activist Amrita Johri said, “People were invited to come to Delhi and once it was known that the PM would be addressing, a lot of the invitations were withdrawn.”

Johri also alleged that IB checks had been conducted on activists and some were asked not to come to the convention as they were a threat to security.